Regular Meeting
November 30, 2012
City Council Chamber
City Council November 30, 2012 Regular Meeting Summary
Friday, November 30, 2012 - New Orleans, LA - At today's regular City Council Meeting the Council adopted the 2013 Capital and Operating Budgets for the City of New Orleans. In other business, the Council acknowledged the achievements of Pastor Fred Luter, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Adopted the City's 2013 Operating and Capital Budgets
The New Orleans City Council adopted the 2013 Capital and Operating Budgets for the City of New Orleans. The Capital Budget totals $41.2 million and the Operating Budget totals $835.2 million. The Council adopted Ordinance Calendar No. 29,259, providing a Capital Budget for 2013; Ordinance Calendar No. 29,260, providing an Operating Budget of Revenues for 2013; and Ordinance Calendar No. 29,261 providing an Operating Budget of Expenditures for 2013. The Council received the Mayor's proposed budget October 29th and conducted a series of month-long budget hearings receiving presentations from City Departments, the Mayor's Office, the Courts, the District Attorney, the Sheriff, outside agencies, boards and commissions. The Council revised the original proposed budget with passage of a series of budget amendments that restored and shifted allocations for pretrial services, two New Orleans Police Department recruit classes, the Council on Aging, and the LSU AgCenter.
Acknowledged Achievement of Pastor Fred Luter, Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Convention
The Council acknowledged the achievement of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Senior Pastor and new President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Reverend Fred Luter, Jr. This past June, Luter was elected by acclamation as the first African American President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was elected as Pastor of the Franklin Avenue congregation in 1986. At that time, the church was a small Southern Baptist mission church with 65 members. By 2005, the church had grown to over 7,000 members, making it the largest Southern Baptist Church in the state of Louisiana. In August of 2005, Luter lost his home to five feet of water, and the church was extensively damaged with eight feet of water during Hurricane Katrina. In spite of the setbacks and destruction brought by Katrina, Pastor Luter continued his ministry for displaced church members, holding worship services in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Houston. In April 2008, regular services were returned to the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. Luter's candidacy was seen as a catalyst to heal the racism that has plagued the denomination for many years. The Southern Baptist Convention is a foundation for leadership and worship for followers in the City of New Orleans and across the country.
District "E" Councilmember Charbonnet said, “Reverend Luter is a shining light for the community and a role model. His unfailing commitment to his ministry is an example to all.”
District "D" Councilmember Hedge-Morrell said, "We are proud to have Pastor Fred Luter in the Council Chamber today. Mr. Luter is a prominent figure in our community and his church, leading his fellow companions on a road to faith, service, and happiness. It is with great pleasure that we honor him for his achievements."